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Attorney General Richard Blumanthal in WNPR's Studio 4: Photo By Chion WolfAttorney General Richard Blumenthal says he’ll propose a law next legislative session that would reconcile the need for environmental preservation in Long Island Sound with energy needs. Blumenthal has been inspired by a new Massachusetts law.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has signed the country’s first ocean planning law. It will lay down the rules for development in the ocean within three miles of the state’s shoreline. It’s designed to balance traditional uses of the water with energy development. Attorney General Richard Blumenthal who has fought against several natural gas projects in Long Island Sound, says he’ll propose a law based on the Massachusetts statute.

“This law is an enormously positive significant first step even a model for the New England region in focusing on preserving marine and environmental resources, but at the same time recognizing a need to provide energy resources for an entire region.”

Under the Massachusetts law no renewable energy projects will be approved until the ocean plan is completed at the end of 2009. The plan won’t affect a controversial proposal for a wind farm off of Nantucket because that would be in federal waters.